Job applicants are ruining their chances by doing this during the interview

From eye contact to handshakes, nonverbal cues can make or break a job interview.

By

JacobPassy

As the saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul — and possibly to a job offer.

Eye contact is the most telling nonverbal cue when it comes to a job interview, according to a recent survey of more than 300 senior managers by staffing firm OfficeTeam. Body language during an interview plays an integral role in the hiring process — and a lot of people aren’t getting it right. Senior managers estimated that 30% of candidates featured some degree of negative body language during interviews. “What you say in an interview is as important as how you say it, and bad body language can take away from your words,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder.

A major contributing factor behind the preponderance of negative body language could be that more people now communicate primarily via digital means, said Daryl Pigat, a division director for OfficeTeam. “As we get more and more into email and texting, the art of interpersonal communication is diminishing,” Pigat said. “It’s important when candidates prepare for interviews to think about what it means to sit across from someone and have a conversation.”

Preparation in this case can take many forms. Amanda Augustine, a career advice expert for TopResume, recommends conducting a mock interview with a friend or practicing in front of a mirror and recording it. “You can observe the body language mistakes you’re making and note what you do well,” Augustine said. Pigat also suggests that job-seekers do a test Skype interview with friends or family, not just to practice things like maintaining eye contact and hand gestures but also to make sure the technology works properly. “The number one thing people tend to do with video interviews is take it too casually,” Pigat said.

These days, job applicants must also be ready for video interviews — and the same general rules of body language apply even when a meeting takes place over Skype rather than in-person. There are other non-verbal cues specific to a video interview to also be mindful of, though. Applicants should make sure that the background during the call looks professional — for example, don’t take the interview in front of the liquor cabinet or with the dirty laundry visible. People with laptops should make sure their computer is placed on a flat, stable surface for the meeting. And dress the part — just because a video interview can occur from the comfort of one’s own home doesn’t mean it’s OK to dress casually.

Here are some additional tips from experts on how to ensure strong body language during a resume:

Make eye contact and don’t glaze over

Keeping strong eye contact with an interviewer can convey positive energy, enthusiasm and energy, according to career coach Dean DeGroot. But folks who are intimidated by this don’t need to sweat it. DeGroot said that looking at an interviewer’s chin or ears can express a similar degree of engagement. “If you’re looking at areas of their face, they’re going to think you’re making eye contact, and it can give the interviewee a break from the tension they feel,” he said.

Lounging in a chair will make job applicants come across as if they’re disinterested in the role, Augustine said. To prevent against this, interviewees should take a page from Sheryl Sandberg’s book and lean in — within reason. “Leaning too far over the table can be intrusive,” Augustine said. “Remember, you want to indicate your interest, not invade the interviewer’s personal space.” So sit up straight and lean forward every so often.

Read the mood of the room and interviewer

If unsure of how to act around an interviewer, take the cue from them. DeGroot advises that job applicants pay attention to a hiring manager’s tone of voice and hand gestures to gain an edge. “People feel more comfortable by nature with someone who is similar to them in some way,” he said. But interviewees shouldn’t take this too far, otherwise they may come across as unnatural or anxious. And it can prevent them from following the next piece of advice:

Just be yourself and wear something familiar

While it’s important to practice and to pick up on the nonverbal cues from senior managers, it’s equally important not to lose sight of what’s really at hand during an interview. This advice also extends to how an applicant dresses. While interview outfits should be appropriately formal, don’t wear a black suit if it dredges up stressful memories of funerals or weddings, for instance. “You have to go into an interview and be yourself,” Haefner said. “Focus on being prepared for the interview and letting your experience get you the job, not your body language.”

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